Flying machine



- C. M. HEl-G. FLYING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED 1 58.13, 1919 1919. 3 SHEETSSHEET x.

i fl Patented July 22 abhor/140.1

\ C..M. HEIG; FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13 1919:

- PatentdJuiy 22, 1919.

' s SHEETS- SHEET 2.

i Suva doc CHARLES M. HEIG- BY v 1 I lm .fc. M. m.

FL Y I.NG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. I919.

Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 r .15. W I CHARLES Mf l l lfg.

Ts PA CHARLES. M. HEIG, or OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed February 13. 1919. Serial No. 276,707.

To all whom it may r onccrh:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. Home, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and Stateof Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in flying machines of the class employing stabilizers, and has for one of its objects to to a normal horizontal position when, for

ing machine substantially on line 5 any'reason, it is deflected from its course,

said stabilizer also to be adapted for useby a pilot for manually steering the machine.

Still another object is to provide a stabilizer of such construction that spinning will be prevented, and to consist of such few and simple parts that it may be practically manufactured, and may be applied to monoplanes or to flying machines havin any required number of planes. 'Other 0 ]ects of the invention will be mentioned hereinafter. In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side views, partly broken away, showing flying machines in different positions with my stabilizing attachment applied. Fig.- 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating movements of a flying ma- .chine under automatic operation of the herein described stabilizer. Fi 5 is a view intransverse section of the bOC y of the fly- Fig. 1 to illustrate the use of the stabilizer for the automatic control of ailerons. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the flying machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective to clearly show. the strands and their mounting upon an upper and a lower plane for a con Fig. 8 is a side view,

sectional view on line 99 of Fig. 13 through'the pendulum frame; Fig. 10 is a sectional view online 10'10 of Fig. 13. Fig. 11 is a side view of the'pendulum frame and pendulum. Fig. 12 is a view of parts taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a plan view of an apertured detaining-plate. Fig. 15 is an end view of the plate shown in Fig. 14. Fig.

16 is a view of the apertured plate before it has been bent to the form shown in Figs. 11 and 15. Fig. 17 is a detail showing a ball and groove.

Referringnow to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the body of a flying machine of conventional type provided wlth an upper 'stat1onary transversely disposed horizontal plane 2 and a similar lower plane 3, the upper plane being provided, adjacent to its ends, with wings or ailerons respectively indicated at 4 and 5, these being connected by suitable hinges a to the rear part of said plane. Numeral 6 indicates a suitable frame for a mounting therein of a pendulum 7 and the devices to be discribed, said frame being disposed midway between the ends of the planes 2 and 3, within the body of the machine; and at 7 is indicated a horizontal plane or elevator of conventional form, its

pivotal connection with the body 'of the machine being indicated at b, and its pairs of opposed arms being indicated at 8 and 9.

' In order that the body of the machine and planes 2 and .3 will automatically move to a horizontal position when deflected, certain devices are provided, consisting, in part, of a ring 10 adapte'd'to swing from opposed pivots 11 disposed in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the machine with mountings in suitable upstanding flanges o of the frame 6, the pendulum being provided with a pivotpin 12 disposed at right-angles to the pivots 11, for a mounting in the ring 10, whereby a universal joint is provided for the pendulum between the ends thereof, the lower end of the pendulum being provided with a hood 13 convex bottom for the frame 6 having a groove dformed therein which is disposed in the longitudinal plane of the machine body, a ball 15 being disposed somewhat loosely within the hood; and it will be understood that if the pendulum is moved from its nor mal vertical position, it will return by operation of gravity, to dispose the ball 15 upon the lowermost part of the circular concaved bottom 14: in the groove (Z, the momentum of the ball aiding inthis movement. Also it will be understood that when the machine body has endwise swinging movements, the ball will readily move in the groove (Z, and that if the machine body has a transverse Swinging movement the side walls of the groove cl will tend to resist such movement in a limlted degree, depending upon the depth of the groove.

Numeral 16 indicates a detaining-plate having an aperture e formed therein'of substantially elliptical form, said plate, however, being provided with recesses f opening upon its aperture 6, these reccssesbeing disposed in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the machine, and it will be understood-thatwhen the pendulum has a swing ing movement or swingscircularly, which may be caused-by movements of the machine from a horizontal position, the plate 16 will limit said movements of the pendulum since the latter may engage the walls of the aperture e, and it will be understood that when the machine swings upwardly or downwardly. in a suflicient degree, the pendulum will normally be maintained in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the machine since it will then be disposed in a recess f.

On account of the construction as described, the elevator 7 and ailerons 4 and 5 may be under automatic control to cause the machine body or the planes 2 and 3to return to a horizontal position when, for any'reason, they have been swung longitu din-ally or transversely, said construction also tending to maintain these parts in a horizontal position, and not interfering with the pilots-manual control, who, by use o'fthe handle 9 of the pendulum may efi'ec tively steer the machine whenever desired.

The automatic control for the elevator is provided by a pair of strands 17 and 18, the strand 17 being provided with a pair of terminal leaders 17 for a connection with the pair of arms 8 of said elevator, the opposite end of the strand 17 being connected with the pendulum below its universal joint, as upon the eyelet l1. and supported by a pulley is, the strand 18 being connected to the eyelet m of the pendulum' above its universal joint and having a connection tor its outer end upon the arms9, and it will be understood that, as shown in v Fig. 1, when themachine is disposed horizontally the pendulum will operate to dis pose the elevator-Tin a horizontal position; and 1f the machine ls d sposed'with a downward inclination, as shown in Fig. 2,. the

elevator will be swung upwardly so that also provided by certain strands connected uponthe plane 2. N-umerals 21 and 22 indicate a pair of strands each being mounted upon the pendulum above the universal o1nt, saidj strands at their outer ends being. mounted upon an arm 19 of an aileron and engaging suitable pulleys 23 mounted upon the plane 2 and engaging suitable roll-- ers 2% which are mounted upon the machlne -body to provide av suitable direction of movement for said strands, the latter being suitably secured,-as indicated at p, to an outer longitudinal edge of'an aileron. Numerals'25 indicate braces for maintaining the arms Q'substantially at right angles to the ailerons. 1 i ,7

If the machine while moving swings sidewise to the position shown in full lines'in Fig. ,5, the pendulum, since it will be disposed in a vertical position. ,will cause coincident movements ofthe ailerons, the aileron 5 moving so that its upper surface will impinge against the air and the aileron 4t mow ing so that its lower surface will impinge against the air, the result being that the machine will return to its. normal position, the pendulum operating as a rock-lever fulcru-mcd on pivots 11 for moving the strand 22 toward the body of-the machine, the strand 21'moving in an opposite direction, the movement of the arm .19 of the aileron 4 causing a simultaneous movement of the arm 19 of the aileron 4.011 account of the connection of said arms by the strand 20.

It will beapprcciatedthat if the machine tends to drop nose foremost or tail foremost the pendulum will be guided to one of recesses fot the plate 16 at the medial planeof the machine body, and thereby the ailerons will be maintained parallel with the plane 2, to prevent the machine from spinmng.

Since the ball 13 will normally remain in the groove (i while the machine is disposed horizontally, transverse undulations ,of the machine will be resisted, this being of gre t advantage while moving through air of varying density, the side walls of the groove resisting a movement of the ball from its groove; and as the planes move laterally with a reciprocated swinging movement the undulationseare resisted by the provision of the ball and groove.

F g. 4 illustrates the use of the pendulum in instances where an engine has been'stalled or a pilot has lost control ofthe machine after passing through the position B from the position A to the position C. It will be seen that when arriving at the position C, the control of the machine being lost, the

pendulum will swing downwardly and will the machine to move inthe curve indicated, passing through the position D, in which position the machine will be substantiallyinverted at the positionE. When the machine reaches the position E the,pendulum will swing downwardly or forwardly of the machine,-therebly tilting the elevator 7 upwardly and causing the machine to make a nosedive" substantially along the dotted line as indicated, and to rlght itself as indicated When the pilot loses control of the machine in thepositionshown at C, the usual result would be that the machine would fall,

the movement being a tail spin. 'It will J be appreciated from the description that the stabilizing device obviates all danger of such'a fall and that in ordinary use, while the machine is moving, it will be maintained in a horizontal positlon without any atten tion of a pilot. In instances when the ma chine is inverted the weight of the pendulum will be increased for the reason that it will sustain the weight of the ball 15, this being of great advantage in case of emerency.

lVhile I have described construction in detail I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect, and changes in form, size, proportion and minor details made, as may be found to be of advantage, said changes being determined by the invention as claimed.

1, An improvement in a flying machine having an elongated body provided transversely with a stationary plane having a pair of 'wings pivotally mounted thereon, and also providedtransversel with a pivotally mounted plane rearwar ly of said stationary plane, a pendulum provided at its distal end with a' hood, said pendulum being mounted between its ends within and adapted to swing transversely or longitudinally from the medialplane of said body, an annular, concaved bearing-plate below themounting of'the pendulum, a ball on said bearing-plate within the hood, means connected with the pendulum and wings of the stationary plane whereby said wings will be moved by a' swinging movement of the pendulum transversely of said body, and means connected with the pendulum and pivotally mounted plane whereby said last named plane will be moved by a swinging movement of the pendulum longitudinally of said body.

2. An improvement in a flying machine having a body provided transversely with a stationary plane having'a pair of wings pivotally mounted thereon, and also pro vided transversely with a pivotally mounted plane rearwardly of said stationary plane, a pendulum provided at its distal end with a hood, said pendulum being mounted within and-adapted to swing transversely or longitudinally from the medial plane of said body, an annular, concaved pendulum, a 'ball on said bearing-plate within the hood, means connected with-the" pendulum and-wings of the stationary plane whereby said wings wil1 be moved, by a.

swinging movement of the pendulum" transversely of said body, means connected with the pendulum and pivotally mounted plane whereby said last namedplane will be moved by a. swinging movement of the pendulum longitudinally of said body, and adetaining plate circumseribing the pendulum 01 maintaining the pendulum in line with the longitudinal axis of said body after said pendulum has performed one of its, swin ingmovements.

3. n stabilizing mechanism, the combination, with the body of, a flying machine having a stationary, transversely disposed horizontal plane with connect/ed pivotally mounted wings, said body'alsobeing pro.-

vided with a pivotally mounted, horizontal plane rearwardly of said first named plane,

of a pendulum provided at its distal end.

with a hood and pivotally mounted in the medial plane of said body, a concaved bearing-plate in the vertical plane of the pivotal mounting of the pendulum, a ball within the hood engaging the bearing-plate,

strands connecting the pendulum at pointsabove and below its pivotal mounting with said pivotally mounted plane, a pair of strands connecting the wings of said first named plane with the pendulum, a detaining-plate stationary with the machine body said detaining-plate having an elongated aperture receiving the pendulum and having a pair of recesses disposed in the medial plane of the machine body opening onits aperture.

4:. In stabilizing mechanism for controlling the movements of the wings of the' transverse, stationary plane and the pivotally mounted elevator-plane of a flying machine, a pendulum on said machine, said pendulum being pivotally mounted between its ends and provided at its lower end with a hood, a bearing-plate having a circular,

V eoncaved area disposed below the' pivotal mounting of the pendulum, a ball within the hood in engagement with said concave area, a detaining-plate between the hood and the pivotal mounting of the pendulum and having an elongated aperture traversed by said pendulum, flexible members connecting the elevator-planewith the pendulum, and a pair of connected flexible members for connecting the wings of the stationary plane with said pendulum.

5. An improvement in a flying machine 70 bearing-plate'below thev mounting of the ea ers having its body provided transversely with elongated aperture traversedby said pento a stationary plane having a pair of pivotally -mounted wings, said'body ,ZLl'SO being provided transversely with a pivotally mounted. plane rearwardly of the stationary plane, a pendulum mounted between its ends upon and adapted to swing transversely" or longitudinally from the medial plane of said body, an annular concaved bearing-plate below the mounting of the pendulum, a ball normally pressed against the bearing plate and movable by the movement of the pendulum, means connected.

with the pendulum and" Wings of the stationary plane whereby said wings will be moved by the swinging movements of the pendulum transversely of said body, and

'means connected with the pendulum and pivotally mounted plane whereby said p1votally mounted-plane will be moved by a swingin movement of the pendulum'longihorizontal plane with connected, ,pivotally mounted'wings,"and provided witha pivotally'mounted, horizontal plane rearwardly of said first named plane, a pendulum pivot'ally mounted in the medial plane of said body, a concaved bearing-plate in the vertical' plane of the pivotal mounting of the pendulum, a ball on the bearing plate disconnected from and movable by the movement of the pendulum, a pair of strands having connections with the pendulum above and below its pivotal mounting and connected with the pivotally mounted plane, a pair of strands connecting the ,wings of said firs named plane with the pendulum, a. detaining-plate stationary with the body of themachine, said plate having an elongated aperture receiving the pendulum and having a pair of recesses disposed in the medial ilane of the machine body opening on said elongated aperture.

7. In stabilizing; mechanism for controlling the wings of the transverse, stationary plane and the pivotally mounted elevator plane of a flying machine, a. pendulum on the machine having a pivotalmounting between its ends, a bearing-plate having a circular, concaved area disposed below the pivotalmounting of the pendulum, a ball disengaged from the pendullrnn engaging said concaved area and movable by the movement of said pendulum, a dotaining-plate between the bearing-plate and-the pivotal mounting of the pendulum and having an dulum, flexible members connecting the elevator-plane with the pendulum, and flexible members connecting the wings of the stationary plane with said pendulum.

8,-In stabilizing mechanism for controlling the movements of the wings of the transverse, stationaiy plane and the pivot ally mounted elevator plane of a flying manormally engaging in said groove, a detaining-plaite between the hood and the pivotal mounting of the pendulum and having an aperture, substantially elliptical in form traversed by said pendulum whereby when the latter swings to either end of said aperture it will be automatically guided to the central vertical plane of the machine, flexible members connecting the elevator-plane" with the pendulum, and a pair of connected flexible members for connecting the wings of the stationary plane with said pendulum whereby when the latter, swings transversely of the machine to a side of said aperture the ball will be removed from said groove.

9. In stabilizing mechanism, the combina tion with the body ofa flying machine having a stationary, transversely disposed horizontal plane with pivotally mounted wings,

said body also being provided with a pivot ally mounted, horizontal plane rearwardly of said first named plane, of a pendulum pivotally mounted 1n the medial planeof said body, a pair of strands connecting the pivotally mounted plane with the pendulum, a pair of strands connecting the wings of said first named plane with the pendulum, a detaining-plate stationary with the machine body having an aperture substantially of elliptical form receiving the pendulum, whereby when the latter swings to either end of said aperture it will be guided automatically to the central, vertical plane of-Said body, and means for automatically increas ing the weight of the pendulum when the flying machine is inverted.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my a signature inpresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M, Hero.

Witnesses ARTHUR H. Sronens, -HIRAM A. S'r'onons. 

